If you can't be happy in Thailand

[spidermike007]

I am happy here. Would I live here full time if I was wealthy? No. But, for those of us on a limited income, the quality of life here is quite high. So, at least half the reason I am here is financial. Thailand is still reasonable. It used to be cheap. Has not been cheap for a long time. But, it is still reasonable. I know people who pay 10,000 baht a month for newer 3 bedroom houses in nice towns. In major cities in the US? $3000-4000 a month. That is 140,000 baht!

I had my motorbike seat recently redone on my scooter. 400 baht. A friend of mine had similar work done in the US. $275.

I recently had a guy come over and insulate my ceiling. I bought the insulation and paid him 2000 baht for labor. In the US? $800 and up.
I recently had an electrician do some work on the house. Nearly a full day of work. Paid him 1000 baht. In the US? $800 and up.

An oil change for my scooter costs me 200 baht, with Castrol oil. In the US? $75.

When I travel here I stay in nice four star hotels in Bangkok. 1800-2000 baht. In the US? $130 for a crappy motel. $200 and up for a nice room.

I eat well here. In a smaller town you can get a three course meal for 200-250 baht. In the US? 2000 baht and up, plus tax and a nearly mandatory 15% tip.
And I get attitude for leaving a $15 or $20 tip. Here, I get nothing but gratitude for a 20-40 baht tip. Recently I was in the US and wanted to order from a delivery service. Besides the meal costing $45 for two dishes, tax and delivery service fees was well over $12. So, $57 for two dishes? I made a sandwich instead of engaging in that foolishness. 
I visit the emergency room here to visit a specialist, and with x-rays I am out the door for 2000 baht, at a private hospital. In the US? $300-2000.

Friends of mine, who are single, enjoy the company of a young, beautiful woman for a couple of hours, for 2500 baht. In the US? $800 an hour now for a decent looking gal, with ALOT of attitude.

I could go on and on, all day long. I live at a level here, that I would never be able to live at, in the US, in most of Europe, in Oz, or Canada. Yes things are more expensive than they used to be. But, it is very relative.

A quote from a friend recently:

My neighbor told me she got a quote for a wood fence around her house.
 
It was around $8,800 ($2800 for the materials, labor (2 days), $6,000. 2 days at 8 hours a day = 16 hours of labor). For $6,000 labor/16 hours that works out to be around $375 an hour labor.
 
Another neighbor got some quotes to get the outside of his house painted. Average quote was around $5,000. He bought all the paint and supplies for $1500. Labor $3,500 and the house would have been finished in 1 day. $3,500 divided by 8 hours of labor = $437 an hour to paint a one story ranch house. That is sheer stupidity. Since when are laborers charging what psychiatrists used to get?

[Hummin]

1 hour ago, Dolf said:

If people aren't happy in Thailand I wonder what will make them happy. Unless you are a skier who need snows I'm not sure why people rubbish Thailand. Cheap dental, cheap food, lots of women, cheap rooms.

 

 

 

 

What is happiness to you? 

 

Thailand do not automatically provides happiness! Happiness is something you create in your mind,  and if cheap dental, lots of women, cheap food and accommodation do it for you, I would say you are lucky. Easy to please

 

 

 

 

Edited March 5 by Hummin

[Moonlover]

1 hour ago, Nemises said:

Lots of bored, lonely, bitter guys living in villages. It gives them something to do. 

Having lived here for 10 years now, my observations suggest that most of the moaning and groaning emanate not from those of us living our quiet, contented lives in the villages, but from the farang infested ghettos of Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket and Chiang Mai.

[Hummin]

1 hour ago, PJ71 said:

Bet you've got a pink ID card and yellow house book, you seem like that type - lol.

Oh, didnt know that was a thing, and what type is it?

[Denim]

12 minutes ago, Hummin said:

Oh, didnt know that was a thing, and what type is it?

The type that are happy enough here and don't have any serious issues with the things mentioned.

 

Agree with Moonlover. Those living a chilled out life away from the tourist areas don't seem to complain as much as the bar stool brigade.

[worgeordie]

1 hour ago, scubascuba3 said:

I agree, a yellow book is an indication what a person is like, fact

I got mine at a time ,were if you had one you could get free hospital services,

used it for a year ,until they started to change things that Thaksin had done.

Yes Farangs were once included in the 30 baht hospital system .

 

 

regards worgeordie

 

 

 

 

[KannikaP]

2 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

I agree, a yellow book is an indication what a person is like, fact

So come on Scuba, what am I like?

[connda]

1 hour ago, Ben Zioner said:

16 days, does this include all his reincarnations? This is a Buddhist forum after all.

Good point.  I'll concede that. 

[connda]

1 hour ago, Keeps said:

Are you having a laugh?

Yep. 😉

[connda]

45 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

I am happy here. Would I live here full time if I was wealthy? No. But, for those of us on a limited income, the quality of life here is quite high. So, at least half the reason I am here is financial. Thailand is still reasonable. It used to be cheap. Has not been cheap for a long time. But, it is still reasonable. I know people who pay 10,000 baht a month for newer 3 bedroom houses in nice towns. In major cities in the US? $3000-4000 a month. That is 140,000 baht!

I had my motorbike seat recently redone on my scooter. 400 baht. A friend of mine had similar work done in the US. $275.

I recently had a guy come over and insulate my ceiling. I bought the insulation and paid him 2000 baht for labor. In the US? $800 and up.
I recently had an electrician do some work on the house. Nearly a full day of work. Paid him 1000 baht. In the US? $800 and up.

An oil change for my scooter costs me 200 baht, with Castrol oil. In the US? $75.

When I travel here I stay in nice four star hotels in Bangkok. 1800-2000 baht. In the US? $130 for a crappy motel. $200 and up for a nice room.

I eat well here. In a smaller town you can get a three course meal for 200-250 baht. In the US? 2000 baht and up, plus tax and a nearly mandatory 15% tip.
And I get attitude for leaving a $15 or $20 tip. Here, I get nothing but gratitude for a 20-40 baht tip. Recently I was in the US and wanted to order from a delivery service. Besides the meal costing $45 for two dishes, tax and delivery service fees was well over $12. So, $57 for two dishes? I made a sandwich instead of engaging in that foolishness. 
I visit the emergency room here to visit a specialist, and with x-rays I am out the door for 2000 baht, at a private hospital. In the US? $300-2000.

Friends of mine, who are single, enjoy the company of a young, beautiful woman for a couple of hours, for 2500 baht. In the US? $800 an hour now for a decent looking gal, with ALOT of attitude.

I could go on and on, all day long. I live at a level here, that I would never be able to live at, in the US, in most of Europe, in Oz, or Canada. Yes things are more expensive than they used to be. But, it is very relative.

A quote from a friend recently:

My neighbor told me she got a quote for a wood fence around her house.
 
It was around $8,800 ($2800 for the materials, labor (2 days), $6,000. 2 days at 8 hours a day = 16 hours of labor). For $6,000 labor/16 hours that works out to be around $375 an hour labor.
 
Another neighbor got some quotes to get the outside of his house painted. Average quote was around $5,000. He bought all the paint and supplies for $1500. Labor $3,500 and the house would have been finished in 1 day. $3,500 divided by 8 hours of labor = $437 an hour to paint a one story ranch house. That is sheer stupidity. Since when are laborers charging what psychiatrists used to get?

Yeah SM007, agreed.  It's funny how people here often are totally binary in their thinking and opinions.
This is a great place to live, and it has a lot of warts to boot.  Which is pretty much part and parcel of any other country that we may chose to live in as expats.  Affordability here in Thailand is a definite plus, excepts it also brings out the d**k-measuring, "I'm Richer Than You Poor Commoner Trash" types who love to brag about how they are the economical equivalent of Long-John Holmes.

It's affordable, and as well, you don't need to go to the city council or pay half a dozen "inspectors" and engineers, and architects in order to lay down a new cement driveway slab, or build a building on your property, or put in a solar system or any other DIY project.  Lord, I can hear the shrieks from the nanny-state embracing members now.  "You'll be sorry when an (earthquake, tornado, cyclone, tsunami, <enter natural disaster here>) hits - ha ha ha ha ha!!!"

Probably not.  I'll just rebuild out of pocket.  Like I said - affordable. 

[Hummin]

3 minutes ago, Denim said:

The type that are happy enough here and don't have any serious issues with the things mentioned.

 

Agree with Moonlover. Those living a chilled out life away from the tourist areas don't seem to complain as much as the bar stool brigade.

Agree, my impression to, but not for everyone. See some who is stuck outside tourist areas, and perform slow suicide. Anyway they wouldnt be better off anyplace with cheep alchohol, kratom and ganja. 

[connda]

Just now, connda said:

Probably not.  I'll just rebuild out of pocket.  Like I said - affordable.

And at least out here in the sticks?  No bureaucratic red-tape.

[NativeBob]

Happiness is the state within you, not around. Otherwise White House is the happiest place on Earth >>>> [Hint: look at Biden]

Thailand is just easy-going country, that's why so many people like to visit or stay here: this easy-going atmosphere makes feel happy.

and Yes, above things make live here quite difficult, but still ...

not food, girls, booze, discos, islands, bitches and ocean.

Just Thailand.

[Dolf]

2 hours ago, bendejo said:

Nothing like a brief stay in, say, Bangladesh, to improve the appreciation.

 

Go to Kalasin then go back to a real city.

[KhunLA]

If you can't be happy here / TH, chances are, changing location isn't going to help.

[BE88]

Those who are not happy living in Thailand leave, those who stay and because they find it convenient to live in this country for various reasons between the pros and cons choose to stay there.

 

There are always new arrivals and new departures.

[jor]

5 hours ago, PJ71 said:

Hold on buttercup, you forgot:

 

- abissmal education system

 

 

 

 

Now, that's funny. 

[jor]

5 hours ago, PJ71 said:

Hold on buttercup, you forgot:

 

- abissmal education system

 

 

 

 

Now, that's funny. 

[PJ71]

19 minutes ago, jor said:

 

Now, that's funny. 

Yes, it's hilarious.

[NorthernRyland]

6 hours ago, Dolf said:

If people aren't happy in Thailand I wonder what will make them happy. Unless you are a skier who need snows I'm not sure why people rubbish Thailand. Cheap dental, cheap food, lots of women, cheap rooms.

 

Living in Thailand you trade one set of problems for another. It's not a magic paradise. Happiness comes from within anyways so why would changing countries matter that much?

[geo473]

Found no reason to leave and plenty to stay

 

If that's happiness so be it 😁

[still kicking]

6 hours ago, Dolf said:

If people aren't happy in Thailand I wonder what will make them happy. Unless you are a skier who need snows I'm not sure why people rubbish Thailand. Cheap dental, cheap food, lots of women, cheap rooms.

 

 

 

 

Why do have posters change their name all the time?

[EVENKEEL]

It's healthy to leave Thailand every year for a month or more just to regain your perspectives on life. It feels good to leave Thailand and usually feels real, real good to return.

[Dolf]

7 minutes ago, EVENKEEL said:

It's healthy to leave Thailand every year for a month or more just to regain your perspectives on life. It feels good to leave Thailand and usually feels real, real good to return.

Yes it does.

[Hummin]

15 minutes ago, EVENKEEL said:

It's healthy to leave Thailand every year for a month or more just to regain your perspectives on life. It feels good to leave Thailand and usually feels real, real good to return.

Every 3 - 4 months is a great reset, and make life in thailand batter and more appreciated. As long I can work freelance thats how I want it. And for now, I will stay out to avoid taxes, and also easier since I can stay here on travel insurance solely, and need no additional. 

[NorthernRyland]

57 minutes ago, EVENKEEL said:

It's healthy to leave Thailand every year for a month or more just to regain your perspectives on life. It feels good to leave Thailand and usually feels real, real good to return.

Thailand drives me nuts about 9 months so I leave for 2 months. Lucky my parents are still around or this wouldn't be possible. Getting stuck here full time would be a problem for sure.

[Elkski]

I would agree with spider Mike except his costs for getting work done is low.  Probably because his US neighbors have more migrant workers available.  Where there are lower % of latino crews the white guys are charging more than his numbers.   Not sure on the 800$ gals unless thats for long time?   I've never used a service like that here but I heard it was much less like 200$  st. 

You don't need a permit to pour a slab as far as I know.  They do inspect the base of  sidewalks on city property prior to pouring.  Do need a permit for a shed . Not hard to get.  And also they dont permit fences over 2.5' if your on a corner so as to preserve sight lines .  Thailand could use that.    Saying you stay inside when the air is bad or its to hot?  Then you would be happy on the moon. Homeowners in my state can do all trades on their own property.  Not true in all states.   

I need fresh air, cool breezes, 4 seasons, no monks chanting, dogs or roosters barking, I expect cars to stop for crosswalks.   I like to be able to go on long mountain bike rides at 75f, with no danger of soi dogs biting me.   We like to collect mushrooms on the nearby public forest's.  I like to fish and hunt on the public lands as well.  I like eating tasty hass avocados daily, the cost  has been 25 baht the last 6 months price.   I like safe limited access highways with 80mph speed limits.  Low limit of 65mph.   My wife cant  believe cars yield to us walking into a store from the parking lot.   

Yes there are homeless in places of your unfortunate to live in those areas.  There are more corner beggars at highway amd street intersections but they dont lay there in the walkway.   Medical care is on a never ending spiral that isnt good so if your unhealthy and cant afford insurance your in trouble here.   Oh the water out of the tap tastes good and its melted snow flowing by gravity off the nearby mountains.   Neighborhood is very safe and no walls with broken glass or bars on windows needed here.   Gas is currently 3$ for the .9 gal.  Large loaf of good bread 140-250 baht.   Pork costs 2.50$/# for bone in Boston butts.  Cops here are not on the take and enforce traffic rules.  During the summer the sun shines for 15 hours a day.  Winters are dark for 3 months,  and cold.  So you need more closet space for winter clothes than most of you  expats in Thailand have total.   

Maybe someday I could live in Thailand?  But i think 2 months every couple years is ok. 

Edited March 5 by Elkski

[richard_smith237]

Obviously most of us are here because we like it here. 

 

BUT... there seems to be this disconnect on forums such as this whereby for some, any observation if it isn't purely positive is a Thai Bash and must mean we don't like it here... "go back to where you came from if you don't like....  ... .... "

 

The reality is that many of us enjoy a great many aspects of Thailand but also recognise that it is far from perfect, in fact main of Thailands imperfections are downright negatives... but for the most part those negatives are outweighed by the positives. 

 

 

One of the most notable things for me is the roads....   whenever I'm in different countries a different driving culture is noticeable... 

 

In Thailand, its within 20mins of leaving the Airport that I very soon witness degrees of outright f*ckwittery on the roads unsurpassed since my earlier travel out to the airport. 

 

I slam Thailand for a number of issues. 

- Societies attitudes to Road, Electrical and Water Safety

- Official attitudes towards education

- Systemic and endemic corruption

- Defamation laws

- In ability to handle loss of face

- Kraeng Jai (which I find to be a huge hinderance to forward thinking)

 

.... And.... as many topics overlap and cover many of the above issues I found outstandingly poor, when discussion such, it has been argued that I am a 'Thai Basher'...    I have no issues with that, when accused of being a Thai basher on any of the above subjects I agree and I'd double down and argue Thailand should deservedly be bashed in area's where it fails.

 

BUT, a number of posters on this forum struggle to reconcile the difference between caring, critical observations and criticism and dislike - binary thinkers struggle with objective opinions...  as much as I love Thailand, there are aspects I hate and dislike. 

 

 

So... the topic title... "If you cant be happy Thailand"....       I think the person who can't be happy in Thailand is not going to be happy anywhere... But also, the person who thinks Thailand is amazing in all aspects and should never be criticised has pulled the wool so far over their own eyes they are choking on fluff.... 

 

 

There is a lot to like here in Thailand, there is a lot not to like....    much of the issue then is how we reconcile the pro's and con's. 

 

I do see some posters; which I suspect is the trigger for the thread, that are so negative about every aspect of Thailand I do wonder what they are doing here...

They seem to hate the culture, hate the people and have no idea 'its them' not everyone else who is the issue. It seems every negative encounter they have is self inflicted (some perhaps aren't)... But Thai's like many other nationalities are incredibly intuitive, even if its just on a subconscious level... and thus, when a negative person is encountering something negative, they blame everyone else but themself.... 

 

I can list the posters on this forum who I consider seem to struggle to be here, they all have similar traits and as far as I can tell, are here because they'd striggle to get tail in their home countries. 

- Don't speak Thai

- Don't want to speak Thai

- Don't want to interact with Thai's

- Don't feel interaction with Thai's is necessary

- Don't want to mix with other Foreigners

- Are highly misogynistic 

- Blame everyone else for failed relationships or business

- Are divorced (some more than once)

- Are opinionated to the point of bigotry

- Are unaware of their racist undertones (they are racists but wouldn't accept that accusation)

- Are unaware that they are fundamentally 'under-educated' 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[NorthernRyland]

24 minutes ago, Elkski said:

I need fresh air, cool breezes, 4 seasons, no monks chanting, dogs or roosters barking, I expect cars to stop for crosswalks.   I like to be able to go on long mountain bike rides at 75f, with no danger of soi dogs biting me.   We like to collect mushrooms on the nearby public forest's.  I like to fish and hunt on the public lands as well.  I like eating tasty hass avocados daily, the cost  has been 25 baht the last 6 months price.   I like safe limited access highways with 80mph speed limits.  Low limit of 65mph.   My wife cant  believe cars yield to us walking into a store from the parking lot.   

 

How terrible driving is in Thailand can not be understated. Every day you need to use the roads and these people make simple things like driving and parking a total headache. I used to think I was in Thailand because the "laid back" lifestyle but when I stay in Colorado for the summers my life is notably less stressful because people are actually polite and respectful on the roads.

 

It snuck up on me fast, maybe my age, but living in Chiang Mai is officially a source of stress in my life so I rented a house up in the mountains and stay here with my dog and let the wife come visit on the weekends when she's off work. If it wasn't for her career she invested years in to I would leave that city for good tomorrow.

 

Rural Thailand may be boring if you're not well occupied but at least it delivers on the promise of Thailand which is cheap and laid back. People are still annoying and make noise and burn things though so there's that.

[NorthernRyland]

3 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

- In ability to handle loss of face

I can live here but I don't think I could do actual business here because of this loss of face thing. For me it's important to be able to tell a person something they did is wrong and it needs to be fixed without them having their ego hurt. It's like dealing with children sometimes.

 

Just last week I took my road bike in to replace a number of parts and the guy decided to change the rear cassette size because he didn't have the same sized one in stock and instead of telling me he needed to order it he just changed it and let me figured it out later. Of course now he needed to take off the new one and order another one anyways. Why do they do this? It's loss of face right? I've know this guy over 10 years now so it just doesn't make sense to me.